Cellist Yo-Yo Ma teaches multicultural students

World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma speaks to members of a local orchestra composed of students from multiracial families during a class at Seoul Arts Center, Monday. / Courtesy of Jun Hyo-seong Group

World-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma offered his musical expertise to dozens of students from multiracial families here who are striving to emulate the French-American musician.

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Ma held the session Monday, teaching an orchestra composed of 50 young students from mixed marriages at the Seoul Arts Center, an event supported financially by local conglomerate Jun Hyo-seong Group.

Ma came here to perform with the Silk Road Ensemble, also at Seoul Arts Center, on Monday night as part of the Silk Road Project, which also includes Jun Hyo-seong as one of its global sponsors.

After the teaching session, Ma said that he would participate in a similar event to help young musicians in the future not only in Korea but also across the world.

Since its launch in 1998 under the auspices of Ma, the Silk Road Project has been involved in the international music scene in line with the spirit of the ancient trade route, which connected the East and the West.

Famed composers have written many new pieces for the Silk Road Ensemble, which have been played by the troupe headed by legendary Ma.

He is seen as one of the top cellists of the modern age and won recognition through Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Jun Hyo-seong has attempted to take advantage of various cultural and sports events in carrying out its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.

"The theme of our CSR activities is to provide hope to impoverished and estranged global citizens via the power of culture, arts and sports", a Jun Hyo-seong official said.

Under this philosophy, the Seoul-based group has conducted various CSR programs in Vietnam and Cambodia as well as Korea.

By Kim Tae-gyu

voc200@koreatimes.co.kr